Skip to content

Population in Eritrea compared to South Sudan: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Eritrea was 3,535,603 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eritrea's population is 3,700,586 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 3.38 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Eritrea is ranked the 130th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.04% for Eritrea vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Eritrea has had an average growth rate of +1.28% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eritrea has increased from 2.7M people to 3.7M (36.9% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Eritrea vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eritrea South Sudan
2100 8,514,681 24,086,901
2099 8,489,924 24,081,477
2098 8,466,983 24,063,461
2097 8,444,468 24,065,268
2096 8,422,323 24,054,483
2095 8,396,086 24,046,345
2094 8,370,114 24,047,776
2093 8,344,405 24,039,017
2092 8,309,034 24,019,054
2091 8,278,860 24,000,308
2090 8,243,905 23,978,496
2089 8,209,883 23,937,487
2088 8,172,664 23,892,166
2087 8,136,016 23,857,250
2086 8,093,065 23,803,312
2085 8,046,814 23,759,178
2084 7,999,706 23,687,109
2083 7,956,385 23,617,646
2082 7,911,764 23,541,119
2081 7,871,753 23,466,449
2080 7,815,766 23,391,758
2079 7,765,677 23,294,252
2078 7,711,886 23,197,067
2077 7,656,307 23,086,584
2076 7,600,951 22,987,331
2075 7,538,912 22,868,587
2074 7,484,322 22,726,189
2073 7,420,571 22,583,672
2072 7,358,500 22,438,943
2071 7,296,109 22,288,026
2070 7,231,198 22,151,650
2069 7,164,883 22,003,659
2068 7,094,530 21,829,800
2067 7,026,000 21,662,211
2066 6,952,514 21,496,881
2065 6,884,323 21,317,455
2064 6,814,893 21,142,002
2063 6,733,263 20,965,122
2062 6,659,531 20,785,055
2061 6,580,923 20,608,964
2060 6,500,944 20,430,857
2059 6,422,305 20,235,022
2058 6,343,070 20,048,974
2057 6,265,450 19,853,696
2056 6,194,123 19,659,362
2055 6,114,099 19,464,297
2054 6,039,801 19,257,481
2053 5,957,339 19,060,517
2052 5,871,954 18,840,461
2051 5,791,096 18,633,198
2050 5,711,061 18,434,212
2049 5,632,165 18,230,881
2048 5,549,890 18,021,026
2047 5,468,518 17,806,282
2046 5,387,267 17,579,173
2045 5,300,511 17,355,041
2044 5,215,831 17,121,972
2043 5,131,686 16,888,278
2042 5,044,262 16,645,354
2041 4,960,422 16,396,768
2040 4,870,981 16,142,816
2039 4,782,316 15,889,952
2038 4,693,015 15,628,043
2037 4,599,752 15,363,975
2036 4,506,879 15,091,275
2035 4,420,367 14,815,307
2034 4,332,828 14,543,511
2033 4,248,272 14,278,180
2032 4,165,241 14,007,134
2031 4,083,762 13,730,637
2030 3,998,903 13,465,615
2029 3,917,775 13,206,477
2028 3,836,693 12,947,082
2027 3,756,696 12,692,769
2026 3,679,782 12,439,296
2025 3,603,902 12,193,102
2024 3,535,603 11,943,408
2023 3,470,390 11,483,374
2022 3,409,447 11,021,177
2021 3,350,183 10,865,780
2020 3,291,271 10,698,467
2019 3,240,194 10,423,384
2018 3,192,760 10,122,977
2017 3,150,347 10,259,154
2016 3,124,698 10,830,102
2015 3,105,546 11,107,561
2014 3,095,173 11,235,073
2013 3,074,360 11,166,275
2012 3,036,988 10,756,240
2011 2,998,485 10,288,109
2010 2,945,186 9,745,953
2009 2,887,885 9,243,556
2008 2,816,327 8,817,647
2007 2,743,222 8,388,788
2006 2,703,502 7,976,526
2005 2,661,215 7,590,143
2004 2,598,284 7,233,041
2003 2,493,903 6,903,127
2002 2,392,978 6,596,806
2001 2,312,079 6,308,391
2000 2,247,031 6,032,267
1999 2,212,780 5,771,628
1998 2,180,419 5,620,068
1997 2,152,135 5,509,136
1996 2,128,464 5,356,925
1995 2,025,267 5,225,836
1994 1,913,915 5,071,184
1993 1,856,006 4,956,002
1992 1,798,748 4,909,749
1991 1,919,571 4,836,677
1990 2,032,737 4,737,633
1989 1,987,017 4,713,229
1988 1,938,255 4,848,029
1987 1,888,669 4,962,395
1986 1,845,164 4,921,240
1985 1,807,816 4,834,296
1984 1,771,730 4,750,627
1983 1,736,160 4,661,574
1982 1,695,461 4,557,686
1981 1,649,939 4,447,272
1980 1,605,797 4,339,030
1979 1,563,332 4,232,605
1978 1,522,378 4,127,657
1977 1,482,565 4,024,032
1976 1,443,807 3,921,910
1975 1,408,210 3,821,494
1974 1,375,688 3,723,259
1973 1,342,669 3,627,383
1972 1,309,235 3,542,497
1971 1,276,154 3,468,646
1970 1,243,453 3,409,614
1969 1,212,005 3,365,533
1968 1,181,737 3,321,528
1967 1,152,339 3,277,648
1966 1,124,957 3,236,423
1965 1,098,335 3,189,835
1964 1,071,287 3,129,918
1963 1,045,092 3,072,669
1962 1,019,788 3,024,308
1961 995,573 2,976,724
1960 972,547 2,931,559

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eritrea increased by 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eritrea gained 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

Eritrea was ranked 135th most populous country in 2006 and is 130th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Eritrea's population will grow by 54.3% to 5,711,061 people with a rank change from 130th to 123rd. The population of South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Eritrea
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eritrea South Sudan
2100 0.29% 0.02%
2099 0.27% 0.07%
2098 0.27% -0.008%
2097 0.26% 0.04%
2096 0.31% 0.03%
2095 0.31% -0.006%
2094 0.31% 0.04%
2093 0.43% 0.08%
2092 0.36% 0.08%
2091 0.42% 0.09%
2090 0.41% 0.17%
2089 0.46% 0.19%
2088 0.45% 0.15%
2087 0.53% 0.23%
2086 0.57% 0.19%
2085 0.59% 0.3%
2084 0.54% 0.29%
2083 0.56% 0.33%
2082 0.51% 0.32%
2081 0.72% 0.32%
2080 0.65% 0.42%
2079 0.7% 0.42%
2078 0.73% 0.48%
2077 0.73% 0.43%
2076 0.82% 0.52%
2075 0.73% 0.63%
2074 0.86% 0.63%
2073 0.84% 0.64%
2072 0.86% 0.68%
2071 0.9% 0.62%
2070 0.93% 0.67%
2069 0.99% 0.8%
2068 0.98% 0.77%
2067 1.06% 0.77%
2066 0.99% 0.84%
2065 1.02% 0.83%
2064 1.21% 0.84%
2063 1.11% 0.87%
2062 1.19% 0.85%
2061 1.23% 0.87%
2060 1.22% 0.97%
2059 1.25% 0.93%
2058 1.24% 0.98%
2057 1.15% 0.99%
2056 1.31% 1%
2055 1.23% 1.07%
2054 1.38% 1.03%
2053 1.45% 1.17%
2052 1.4% 1.11%
2051 1.4% 1.08%
2050 1.4% 1.12%
2049 1.48% 1.16%
2048 1.49% 1.21%
2047 1.51% 1.29%
2046 1.64% 1.29%
2045 1.62% 1.36%
2044 1.64% 1.38%
2043 1.73% 1.46%
2042 1.69% 1.52%
2041 1.84% 1.57%
2040 1.85% 1.59%
2039 1.9% 1.68%
2038 2.03% 1.72%
2037 2.06% 1.81%
2036 1.96% 1.86%
2035 2.02% 1.87%
2034 1.99% 1.86%
2033 1.99% 1.94%
2032 2% 2.01%
2031 2.12% 1.97%
2030 2.07% 1.96%
2029 2.11% 2%
2028 2.13% 2%
2027 2.09% 2.04%
2026 2.11% 2.02%
2025 1.93% 2.09%
2024 1.88% 4.01%
2023 1.79% 4.19%
2022 1.77% 1.43%
2021 1.79% 1.56%
2020 1.58% 2.64%
2019 1.49% 2.97%
2018 1.35% -1.33%
2017 0.82% -5.27%
2016 0.62% -2.5%
2015 0.34% -1.13%
2014 0.68% 0.62%
2013 1.23% 3.81%
2012 1.28% 4.55%
2011 1.81% 5.56%
2010 1.98% 5.44%
2009 2.54% 4.83%
2008 2.66% 5.11%
2007 1.47% 5.17%
2006 1.59% 5.09%
2005 2.42% 4.94%
2004 4.19% 4.78%
2003 4.22% 4.64%
2002 3.5% 4.57%
2001 2.89% 4.58%
2000 1.55% 4.52%
1999 1.48% 2.7%
1998 1.31% 2.01%
1997 1.11% 2.84%
1996 5.1% 2.51%
1995 5.82% 3.05%
1994 3.12% 2.32%
1993 3.18% 0.94%
1992 -6.29% 1.51%
1991 -5.57% 2.09%
1990 2.3% 0.52%
1989 2.52% -2.78%
1988 2.63% -2.3%
1987 2.36% 0.84%
1986 2.07% 1.8%
1985 2.04% 1.76%
1984 2.05% 1.91%
1983 2.4% 2.28%
1982 2.76% 2.48%
1981 2.75% 2.49%
1980 2.72% 2.51%
1979 2.69% 2.54%
1978 2.69% 2.58%
1977 2.68% 2.6%
1976 2.53% 2.63%
1975 2.36% 2.64%
1974 2.46% 2.64%
1973 2.55% 2.4%
1972 2.59% 2.13%
1971 2.63% 1.73%
1970 2.59% 1.31%
1969 2.56% 1.32%
1968 2.55% 1.34%
1967 2.43% 1.27%
1966 2.42% 1.46%
1965 2.52% 1.91%
1964 2.51% 1.86%
1963 2.48% 1.6%
1962 2.43% 1.6%
1961 2.37% 1.54%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Eritrea grew by 1.88%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Eritrea South Sudan
Current population
3700586
12507858
Population rank 130/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.15%
One net population change
8.06 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
5.31 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
25 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +179 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +65,213 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +1.88% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 58/197 7/197
One migration net change every
1.31 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -6,698 +6,145
Net migration rank 122/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 12,512 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 176/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 178/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eritrea
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eritrea South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -6,698 - 6,145
2024 - -12,696 - 15,374
2023 78,073 -15,284 217,966 455,000
2022 76,221 -17,134 211,166 40,259
2021 74,394 -14,966 213,567 -154,359
2020 73,362 -14,967 212,332 62,935
2019 73,572 -29,818 209,708 65,198
2018 72,511 -21,403 168,497 157,408
2017 72,291 -38,579 72,193 -670,477
2016 73,002 -55,431 110,553 -654,225
2015 73,682 -52,965 148,542 -159,822
2014 75,729 -75,696 227,611 -471,523
2013 75,562 -33,974 315,983 65,337
2012 76,416 -43,269 312,974 125,771
2011 76,806 -32,949 303,181 194,325
2010 76,098 -13,361 287,409 299,402
2009 76,206 -24,348 278,859 139,129
2008 73,391 17,855 268,268 165,557
2007 73,101 -18,131 256,546 167,350
2006 74,470 -49,998 246,706 153,926
2005 72,930 -12,835 239,272 132,869
2004 72,147 -6,374 231,877 110,182
2003 66,291 76,703 225,822 91,951
2002 65,436 -6,574 212,014 82,847
2001 61,180 41,760 204,108 77,856
2000 60,274 -33,133 196,055 74,227
1999 45,120 -3,769 180,721 70,271
1998 55,332 -31,951 -12,157 64,285
1997 63,953 -30,768 121,454 48,280
1996 66,557 -52,421 116,728 17,953
1995 56,157 136,105 110,417 17,077
1994 56,288 -25,841 165,407 16,407
1993 51,679 33,688 32,779 15,772
1992 51,443 -22,293 28,874 15,077
1991 57,741 -328,546 87,873 14,327
1990 56,903 -12,425 82,900 12,988
1989 54,299 -7,330 83,735 -130,821
1988 54,163 -3,612 -125,447 -97,065
1987 52,229 -3,613 5,756 -11,976
1986 39,470 -1,073 99,502 -10,973
1985 37,362 -1,073 95,342 -9,986
1984 35,101 772 90,970 -8,984
1983 33,420 1,853 104,107 -7,986
1982 44,146 1,985 118,641 -6,983
1981 42,924 1,985 115,163 -5,994
1980 41,392 1,985 112,307 -4,997
1979 39,577 1,985 109,540 -3,997
1978 38,353 1,985 107,352 -2,998
1977 37,295 1,985 104,886 -1,997
1976 36,250 1,985 102,346 -995
1975 30,971 1,985 99,882 -395
1974 30,111 1,985 97,181 -192
1973 31,969 1,985 94,765 0
1972 30,951 1,953 74,803 193
1971 31,490 1,758 72,308 394
1970 30,686 1,480 44,776 587
1969 29,535 1,199 42,015 786
1968 28,777 1,013 44,213 995
1967 27,992 1,004 41,357 1,194
1966 24,713 1,063 38,523 1,386
1965 26,285 1,188 51,682 1,591
1964 25,327 1,300 64,786 1,785
1963 24,393 1,368 46,333 1,591
1962 23,478 1,364 47,406 1,386
1961 22,351 1,235 45,186 1,194
1960 21,424 1,045 42,945 995

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/south-sudan | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 68.8% of the population change in Eritrea is from natural causes (a gain of 742,837 people) and 31.2% is from migration (a loss of 336,243 people). In South Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 12,512 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Eritrea, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K
South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/eritrea/south-sudan | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.